Suction cleaner



J. B. ,DYER

SUCTIQN QLEANER July 1o, 1.934.

Filled-April '17. 1930 4 sheets-sheet' 1 imm ,July 1o, 1934.

v.LELDYER 'sUcTIoN CLEANER Filed April 17. 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 J- B- DYER SUCTION CLEANER July 10 Filed April 17 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 A wm Q July 1o, 193.4.l

J. B. DYER sUCTIoN CLEANER 4 sheets-sheet 4 v Film April 17. 1930 40 adjustment.

. 45 shown in Fig.

Patented July 10,l 1934 sUc'rIoN CLEANER` John B. Dyer, Pendleton, Ind., assignor to Delco- Remy Corporation, Anderson, "in d.; a corporation of applicati@ Ain-n 17, 1930,- sei-m No. 445,111A

- 1 clam. (c1. aos- 13) Thisinvention relates to suction cleaning apparatus generally known as a vacuum cleaner and particularly theV type of vacuum cleaner for domestic use, lwhich comprises a suction nozzle 6 associated with an electric motor operated rotary suction producing fan which exhausts into a dust collecting bag. The cleaner is provided with wheels or rollers by which it is supported upon the surface to be cleaned andis moved about by a handle.

'Ihe present invention has for its object the simplincation and the' reduction of the cost ot manufacture of vacuum cleaners of this type. More particularly, it is one of the objects of the 1&5 invention to provide a novel means for adjusting the elevation of a rotary brush in the suction cleaning nozzle. l

A further object isgto provide a more conveniently operated meansfor adjusting the position of the handle with respect to the frame of the cleaner.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of one form of the present invention is clearly shown. f

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a vacuum cleaner embodying the present invention, `the handle being shown upright. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side view. looking in the direction of the arrow 2 in Fig. 1. v

1 Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on line -5-.5 oi' Fig. 4. Figs. 6 and 7 are sectional views on line 6-6 of Fig. 5 showing the brush in` two positions of Fig. 8 is a sectlonalfview on line 8-8 of F18. 4. Fig. 9 shows a complete longitudinal sectional view of the handle in an inclined position.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary tcp view of the handle 9. Fig. 11 is a fragmentary bottom view cf the handle shown in Fig. 9. Fig. 12 is a composite view of several parts which are associated withy the handle.

The supporting frame work of the vacuum for a rod 2lupon the ends of which supporting rollers 26 are joumalled.' Between each roller and the bracket 24 the rod receives an arm 27 of a bale 28 providing a socket 29 for a handle 30. The rollers 26 support the rearporticn of the cleaner above the floor. The forward or nozzle portion of the cleaner is supported by rollers 31 each mounted on a pin 32 ilxed to an arm 33 which is attachedto a rod 34 at a point offset from the point of attachment of theipin 32. The rod 34 is received byl notched bosses 35 provided by the 65 bottom plate 22and is retained in position by a clip 36 attached to the plate 22-by screws '37. By turning the rod 34 the pins 32 are caused to rotate relative to the rod and hence vary the elevation of the pin 32 with respect to the nozzle and 70 hence vary the height of the nozzle above the floor 1 upon which the rollers 31 rest. The rotation of the shaft 34 is eiected by providing `a sheet metal resilient arm 40 whichis attached at one end to the crank'arm 33 and is provided at its other end with a detent 41 adapted to be received by any one of a circular row of recesses 42 in a plate 43 which is attached to the side ofthe nozzle 2l.

'I'he bottom wall 50 of the fan housing 20.is provided with a central opening 51y providing so communication between the nozzle and the inlet to the. fan housing. The outlet 52 of the fan housing, as shown in Figs. l and 3, is connected vwith the inlet 53 of a` dust collector bag 54 by a conventional bayonet slot and pin connection 85 55, 56. rlhe upper wall 57 of the fan housing is provided with a central aperture 58 which receives the annular plane portion 59 of a suction fan 60 having blades 6l merging with the annular portion 59 and with a hub 61a attached to the armatureshaft 62 of an electric motor. The

shaft 62 is journalled in bearings 63 and 64 supported respectively by a plate 65 and a brush@ holder frame 66 both of which are attached to f the main motor frame 67 which in turn is attached to the fanhousing 20. The frame 67 supports pole pieces 70 carrying iield windings 71. The armature shaft 62 supports a core 72 carrying. armature windingsv 73, the leads of which are connected respectively with the bars 100 of a commutator 74. The frame 66 supports brush holders 75, each guiding a brushw76 into engagement with the commutatorv 74. One end of each eldv winding 7l is connected with a brush and the other end of the ilelcil windings are connected with wires 77 and 78 leading from the eld windings to an opening in a motor frame cover. 79, thence through a flexible coil wire sheath 80 and then through an opening 81 in aplate 82 attached by screws 83 to the handle no 30. The connection of these wires with a switch at the upper end of, the handle will be described later.

The lower end of the shaft 62 carries a pulley 90 connected by a belt 91 with a pulley 92 integral with a hub 94 of a rotary brush comprising two spiral rows of bristled tufts 95. 'Ihe hub 94 is made preferably of wood and carries at its ends bearing pins 96. Each pin 96 is received by a hole drilled eccentrically in a wooden cylindrical plug 97 which provides a bearing for the pin 96. The plug 97 is forced into the cylindrical cup-shaped extension 98 of a bearing support 99 having a ange 100 extending over a collar 94a at the end of the brush hub 94 and thus adapted to prevent ravellings loosened from the tufts coming into contact withor getting between the abutting end surfaces of the hub 94 and plug 97. Three pins 101 spaced angularly 120 apart'are fastened to the cylindrical side wall of the extension 98 of the bearing bracket 99. The extension 98 is retained inposition within the nozzle by resilient sheet metal clips 102 secured by screws 103 to the nozzle frame 21. The lower ends of each of the clips 102 are provided with notches 104 each of which receives a pin 101 and thus prevents turning of the bearing bracket 99. Since the brush hub pins 96 are eccentrically supported by the bearing plugs 97, it is apparent that the brush may be located within the nozzle 21 in any one of three different positions depending on how the bearing brackets 99 are located with respect to their supporting clips 102. Referring to Fig. 7, the brush tufts extend to a dot-dash line circle 105a. If the brush bearing brackets 99 be removed from the supporting clips y 102 and both turned counterclockwise as viewed in Fig. 7 an angular distance of 120 and then relocated between the clips 102,l the brush hub spindle pins 96 will be located at 96h and the brush tufts will touch the circle 105b indicated in dot-and-dash lines. If, instead of turning the brush bearing back 'counterclockwisa they be turned clockwise 120 and then relocated between the clips 102, the brush hub spindle pins will be Alocated at 96o in Fig. 6 and the brush tufts will touch the circle indicated at 105e. The two positions shown in Fig. 7 are the uppermost and lowermost and Fig. 6 shows the intermediate position.

In order to provide for passing the belt 91 around the pulley 90 the nozzle 21 is provided with an opening 110 normally closed by a cover 111 having a flange 112 engaging the outer bottom surface of the nozzle 21 and having a raised portion 113 which fits within the hole 110. The cover 111 is held closed by a resilient wire bale 114 having its ends 115 pivoted in lugs 116 integral with the nozzle 21 and having its-intermediate portion adapted to passover a lug 117 integral with the cover.

The nozzle carries a rubber guard or bumper 120 attached to the nozzle in any suitable manner and to a nozzle lip and brush guard member 121.

The electric motor operates to drive the fan 61 and the brush 94 while the cleaner is being moved by the handle. over the surface to be cleaned. The brush 94 operates to dislodge particles of dust and dirt from the surface and the fan operatesto cause a circulation of d ust laden air through the nozzle, fan housing and bag where the dust is separated from the air, the relatively clean air passing out through the pores in the bag. It will be noted that the nozzle 21 is located relatively close to the floor so that it and even the fan housing 20 will readily pass under low articles of furniture, at least far enough to clean beyond Where dust would be visible.

The nozzle 21 may be readily detached from the fan housing 20 to permit the substitution of a different type of nozzle, for example, one which has a narrow mouth providing for greater suction at the mouth of the nozzle andone which may also be provided with a stationary brush. One example of such nozzle and brush is disclosed in my companion copending application, Serial Number 445,112 filed April 17, 1930. Referring to Fig. 3, it will be seen that the nozzle 21 is provided with notched ears 130 each adapted to receive the threaded shank of a stud 131 fastened to the bottom wall 50 of the fan housing 20. Each stud 131 receives a thumb nut 132 which, on being tightened, secures an ear 130 to the bottom of the fan housing 20. These nuts 132 secure the nozzle to the fan housing at two places. The nozzle is secured at a third place by providing it with a tapered wedging portion 133 located between two ribs 134 thus providing a notch which receives a tongue 135 integral with a handle locating sector bracket 160 secured by screws 161 to the fan housing 20 and by screws v162 to the motor frame 67. The tongue 135 is also tapered and provides a tapering notch 136 which receives the tapering part 133 of the nozzle 21. It is not necessary to remove the nuts 132 entirely when removing the nozzle. The nuts are loosened so that the nozzle may be shifted laterally sumciently to permit the nozzle to clear the sector bracket tongue 135 and the nuts 132.

The handle 30 carries at its upper end a grip member 140 having a 'sheath of molded insulating material 141. The handle grip 140 is secured to the handle 30 by a screw 142 and a nut 143. Nuts 144 and screws 145 secure to the handle 30 a bracket 146 having a part extending through an aperture 147 in the handle and pivotally supporting at 148 a lever 149 attached by a wire 150 to a notched block 151 attached by a pin 152 to a plunger 153 urged downwardly by a spring 154 located between a washer 155 attached to the plunger and a washer 156 bearing against the lower end of the handle 30. The plunger 153 is adapted to cooperate with the handle locating sector which is provided with narrow notches 163 and 164 which respectively cooperate with the lower end of the plunger 153 to hold the handle in uppermost or lowermost positions. The sector 160 also provides a wide notch 165 which permits movement of the handle through a range of intermediate positions, The notch 165 is defined by a relatively smooth shoulder 166 which cooperates with the end of the plunger 153 to cam it upwardly as the handle is moved clockwise as viewed in Fig. 9 about the pivot rod 25. When the end of the plunger 153 is in alignment with the notch 163, the plunger will be urged into the notch 163 by the spring 154 so as to permit the return of the handle to the uppermost position without requirlng the operator to move the lever 149. The notch 163 cooperates with the plunger 153 to hold the handle 30 in vertical position in which it would ordinarily be located whenthe cleaner is not in use. Before using the cleaner the operator pushes the lever 149 downwardly to cause the plunger 153 to be withdrawn from the notch 163 so that the handle may be moved into position such that the plunger 153, when released, will move into the wide notch 165. During usual manipulation of the cleaner the handle is generally held at such an inclination that the plunger 153 remains within the notch 165. Hence, no further manipulation of the lever 149 is usually required. When using the cleaner under low articles of furniture it may be desirable to fix the handle 30 in its lowermost position of inclination with respect to the cleaner. This is accomplished by again moving the lever 149 so that the plunger 153 will clear the abrupt shoulder 167 defining the lower end of the wide'notch 1765 so that the plunger may be moved clear of the projection 168 which separates the wide notch 165 from the narrow notch 164. The release of the lever 149 after the plunger 153 has been located in alignment with the notch 164 will permit the plunger 153 to move into locking engagement with the sector 160. Thus the handle 30 is locked in the lowermost inclined position with respect to the cleaner. When the handle is thus locked to the cleaner non-rotatably in the lowermost position of inclination, it has been found to facilitate the movement of the cleaner when moving the nozzle under lowarticles of furniture.

The switch 170 for controlling the electric motor is conveniently located adjacent-the grip 140.V `This switch is one of many conventional types which may be used, hence, it is not described in detail except to pointK out that it has an operating handle movable ufrom an off position indicated at 171a into an onposition indicated at 171b` in which positionit causes a conducting roller 172 then located at 172b to make contact between two stationary terminals 174 and 175 which are connectedv respectively with wire 78 and a wire178 which together with the wire 77 passes through an opening-179 in the handle 30 and through an apertured cover plate 180 attached to one end of a flexible coil-wire sheath 181. Fig. 12 shows the grip switch handle and switch insulation in disassembled relation. The switch 170 is fastened to the grip 140 by screws 176 which pass through apertured ears 177 of the switch frame and are threadedl into tapped holes 176a in the shank 140a of the grip 140. A split nonconducting tube 182 is then placed around the switch and its side aperture 183 is located in alignment with the hole 184 in the grip for receiving the screw 142 and nut 143. Then this assembly of grip, switch and switch insulation is assembled with the handle 30 which is provided with a long notch 185 for receiving the handle 171a ofthe switch 170. Then before the screw 142 is applied, a cover plate 180 having a cross-shaped aperture 186 is located as shown in Fig. 11 and is secured by the screw 142 which is then threaded into the nut 143, and by a screw 187 threaded into a hole 188'tapped in the side of the handle. As stated before, the cover plate 180 retains one end of the flexible sheath 181 and also provides a closure for a portion of the notch 185 of the handle 30.

The nonconducting material 141 encasing the grip 140 assists in preventing a shock to the operator should any portion of the electrical circuit become accidentally grounded upon the handle. The switch v170 is insulated from the handle by the nonconducting tube 182. The electric motor and vacuum cleaner frame is insulated from the handle by the insulating tube 190 located between the lower end of the handle and the bale socket 29 to which the lower end of the handle is connected by tightening the clamping screw 29a. f

While the form of embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claim which follows.

What is claimed is as follows:

In combination with a vacuum cleaner having a suction housing, an operating handle having its lower end pivotally connected with said housing, and means for limiting the pivotal movement of said handle relative to said housing including asector on said housing and a plunger on said handle, a spring urging said plunger against s'aid sector, and a manually operable control extending to adjacent the upper end of said handle for manually retracting said plunger, said sector having a relatively narrow notch to receive said plunger and hold saidhandle in its uppermost non-operating position,'and a relatively wide notch adjacent said narrow notch to receive said plunger `and define the lower limit of pivotal movement of said handle while permitting free pivotal movement throughout the normal range of operating positions, said wide notch being formed adjacent said narrow notch with a cam surface to automatically retract said plunger as said handle is moved from operating to non-operating position.

JOHN B. DYER. 

